Dante Alighieri: a year dedicated to the Supreme Poet
2021 is the year of Dante Alighieri, and Sardinia will celebrate it with the project “Divine Sardinia” which retraces the places on the island linked to La Divina Commedia, including castles, villages and other sites of interest.
2021 is the year of the seven hundredth anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, and the rich series of events organized by the FAI-Sardinia from spring to autumn included in “Divine Sardinia” is one of the many initiatives planned all over Italy to celebrate the Supreme Poet.
Alighiero degli Alighieri, known as Dante Alighieri or more simply Dante, is the father of the Italian language, and his fame is mainly due to the Comedìa or Commedia, which became famous as La Divina Commedia, the largest work written in Italian and one of the greatest masterpieces of world literature.
The exact date of Dante’s birth is unknown, however, according to some autobiographical allusions reported in the work Vita Nova and the cantica dell’Inferno, scholars indicate 1265 as a possible reference year. Moreover, some verses of Paradiso reveal that the Supreme Poet was born under the sign of Gemini, therefore between May 21st and June 21st.
We don’t know much about Dante’s education either. He probably began his studies with a grammarian, then followed the typical educational process of the time before devoting himself to the liberal arts provided by medieval education: arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy, dialectics, grammar and rhetoric. The young Dante also knew politician and writer Brunetto Latini who, according to some important philologists, influenced the intellectual formation of the Supreme Poet who dedicated Latini some verses of the Divine Comedy.
An important part of Dante’s human and poetic path is also the figure of Beatrice, an inspiring muse and “woman angel”, who in the Divine Comedy guides the Supreme Poet to Paradise and becomes the means that allows him and all humanity to reach the contemplation of God. Dante’s journey in the story must not be taken only as a path of personal redemption, the author is focused on the poet’s role and therefore universalizes the individual experience.
Universal, personal and religious redemption, possible thanks to the theology and faith that lead to otherworldly happiness, are not the only issues addressed by Dante in the Divine Comedy: there are autobiographical references in his work relating to the exile of the Poet and political redemption.
After being exiled from Florence, his native city, Dante died in the night between the 13th and 14th September 1321 in Ravenna and buried in the tomb designed by architect Camillo Morigia.
Dante Alighieri: the events of the “Divina Sardegna” calendar
2021 is the year of Dante Alighieri, and the FAI-Sardinia celebrates the Supreme Poet with “Divine Sardinia” a series of events and cultural paths that retrace places on the island linked to La Divina Commedia, including castles, villages, historical venues and other sites of interest.
For all events, FAI has benefited from the collaboration with scholars, archaeologist, art historians, astronomists, tourism professionals and local realities already operational in the area, including cultural walks, literary trekking, re-enactments and suggestions that will offer visitors a special and stimulating experience connected to Dante.
Home to the municipal library where a fifteenth-century edition of the Divine Comedy will be presented, Palazzo d’Ursini Sassari will host the inaugural event of the project “Divine Sardinia”, scheduled for March 25th in the occasion of Dante Dì, the Day established by the MIBAC in honour of Dante Alighieri.
Here are the other unmissable appointments:
- North Sardinia
-Sassari, 18th of April: historical-literary itinerary with archaeologist Franco Campus and the medievist Alessandro Soddu (UNISS). Starting from the medieval Sassari and arriving at the Castle of Malaspina in Osilo for a day full of history, a tasting of traditional bread accompanied by medieval music performed by the school La Rosa di Calliope and the association “The breath of Art”;
-Ardara, 29th of May: visit the Basilica di Nostra Signora, the Palace of Ardara, the church of San Pietro and the Civic Museum with the historian Stefano Alberto Tedde and art historian Alma Casula. A themed musical conclusion is also planned;
-Goceano, 13th of June: with the archaeologist Luca Sanna to discover the castle of Burgos and the Romanesque church of San Saturnino di Usolvisi near Bultei with a naturalistic itinerary through Foresta Burgos and a visit to the Domus de Janas of Sant’Andrea Priu Bonorva;
-Luogosanto, 19th of June: appointment with the archaeologist Fabio Pinna for a journey between the Castle of Balaiana and the palatine chapel of San Leonardo, the palace of Baldu, the Hermitage of San Trano, the Basilica of Luogosanto and the Diocesan Museum;
-Tempio Pausania, 3rd of July: by the group Olbia-Tempio, an evening at the “house of Nino Visconti”, the Judge of Gallura “Nin Gentil” quoted by Dante: a building, now privately owned, which will be open and made accessible to the public as a special occasion. There will also be a themed cultural meeting led by Professor Michele Tamponi;
-Palau, 17th of July: il Bene FAI – Batterie Talmone will host an event related to the observation of the sky and astronomy in the time of Dante, with the exhibition “Breve Atlante astronomico Della Divina Commedia” by the Società Astronomica Turritana and the physicist Gian Nicola Cabizza.
- South Sardinia
-Cagliari, 16th of April: night visit to the Cathedral of Cagliari with Dante’s suggestions organized by the FAI Delegation of Cagliari;
-Iglesias, 2nd of May: visit the medieval city, the ancient Villa di Chiesa and the church of Santa Chiara;
-Siliqua, 23rd of May: guided tour with suggestive sounds in the Acquafredda Castle (Castle of the Count Ugolino della Gherardesca);
-Iglesias, 29th of May: urban trekking and visit to an exhibition on torture instruments;
-Cagliari, 12th of June: Dante’s walk in the city park of Monte Claro;
-Bene FAI – Saline Conti Vecchi, 17th of July: event about the stars at the time of Dante.
- Province of Oristano
-The events organized by the FAI Group of Oristano will take place between July and September, on dates yet to be defined: in July, there will be a focus on hospitals, diseases and care in the medieval ages, with visits to the religious complex of San Martino, the ancient home of the Order of Hospitallers and the Hospital of Sant’Antonio di Oristano, and, in collaboration with the Municipality of Santuu lussurgiu, a stop at San Leonardo de Siete Fuentes, where some say that the Guelph of Gherardesca is buried, who died from the plague.
-In August, thanks to the collaboration with the Municipality of Oristano, the Oristano Foundation and the Antiquarium Arborense Museum, the Dante evenings will take place to remember the Supreme Poet in the Arborense capital with a series of “cultural aperitifs” including readings, music, stories, which will be held in the historic centre and evocative sites included in the poem.
-In September, a stop in Bosa with a route that recalls Dante’s descent into hell, between the castle of Serravalle, linked to the Malaspina, and the historic city of Bosa, to discover monuments, arts and crafts. An event that will see the collaboration of the City of Bosa and cultural associations of the city.
- Province of Nuoro
-Saturday, September 18th: nature trails in the Tepilora Regional Nature Park, with excursions to Bitti and Posada, where special moments will be dedicated to readings and musical interludes;
-Sunday, September 19th: discover the village and the Castle of Posada (property of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca), with the archaeologist of the Superintendence of Nuoro: Maria Ausilia Fadda. Afterwards, you can also visit the natural area on the delta of the Rio Posada, where you can choose whether to go kayaking or cycling or whether to visit on foot or by train the most picturesque areas, in collaboration with the CEAS of Posada.
All events will be carried out in compliance with the security provisions related to the contrast of Covid-19. For more information, please visit the Fai-Sardegna Facebook page (@faisardegna).
Do you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the “Divine Sardinia” events and have a holiday full of charm and elegance? Discover Palazzo Doglio in Cagliari.
